Job Discussion Forums

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Have been lurking, posting here for a while and just want to throw this in to see what your thoughts are.
Found three school in Istanbul who have open positions for the next school term, they all look for German language teachers.
I got a B.A.in Ed. for teaching German as a second language and nearly 3 years of experience in the public school system.

Luckily I haven't seen these schools posting adds on German sites! What do you think, do I have a chance?

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

your credentials look good. i hope these are not schools for kids...

tekirdag · Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 505

Yes, teaching Turkish kids is tough.

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Yes, these are school for kids. What's so difficult about the kids in Turkey?
I have been teaching in a school in one of the roughes areas here, kids skipping lessons, coming to school without books, pens, etc. shouting, screaming, running out of the classroom during lessons, calling you a bitch, smashing windows or fighting during the lessons.
Is that what it is like?

There are quite a few 2nd generation Turks here in the Netherlands who send their kids back to Turkey to go to school there. They say that the school system in Turkey is more strict and doesn't have the typical Dutch oh-let's-talk-about-this-and-find-a-compromise-and-if-not-we-make-another-exception-to-the-rule policy.

Ebenezer · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 99

well... if you can cope with all that, Turkey won't be a lot different... the only difference is that the students are not allowed to just leave the classroom, so they will do everything you can and can't imagine inside the classroom, they will treat you like "beep", they will make you cry, they will make your life miserable, they will make you consider suicide, but if you can handle it... you'll be fine. Am I wrong, folks?

Ebenezer · Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 99

well... if you can cope with all that, Turkey won't be a lot different... the only difference is that the students are not allowed to just leave the classroom, so they will do everything you can and can't imagine inside the classroom, they will treat you like "beep", they will make you cry, they will make your life miserable, they will make you consider suicide, but if you can handle it... you'll be fine. Am I wrong, folks?

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

If the turkish kids are so nasty, how come there are still teachers?
But seriously, is there also such a high percentage of burn-out/long-term sick leave amongst Turkish teachers?
Here in the Netherlands 50% of all new teachers drop out within the first 6 months. They either go on sick-leave or quit teaching immediately.

TeachEnglish · Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Posts: 239

There are still teachers because many new teachers don't know the kids can be so bad. I have some very funny horror stories about the kids in primary, elementary, and high school. The worst stories have come from the University teachers that have to deal with them after they come from High School. They are just bigger monsters. Most private school children have spoiled child problems and these do not get better when they go to University. As time goes on, you learn how to manage with these problems. Some of the children/young adults are great students, but you can usually tell who is in school supported by parents money and those that are there because of grants/scholarships.